Portable life preserver



United States Patent Ofiice 3,113,327 Patented Dec. 10, 1963 3,113,327 PORTABLE LIFE PREERVER Julian L. Cook, West Eainhridge, Gen, assignnr of ninety percent to Harmon A. Cook, Marietta, Ga, five per cent each to J. H. Boutweil and Irene Fminin, both of Reckmart, Ga.

Filed July 20, 19%, Ser. No. 44,649 7 Claims. (Cl. 9-316) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in life preservers, and more particularly relates to a portable life preserver which may be readily attached to ones person through the use of a belt or the like and which may be easily manipulated to effect the inflation thereof.

This invention particularly relates to a portable life preserver which includes a housing in which sealed cartridges or cylinders of compressed gas are stored and which are connected to inflatable bags, the housing norrnally being closed by a cover which is held in place by a latch, the latch being mounted in a manner that the cover is first released, after which the latch mechanism operates puncturing means for opening the cartridges or cylinders to effect the inflation of the bags.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel portable life preserver which includes a shallow cuplike housing with a removable cover, the housing being provided with a ring which may be readily attached to ones belt for the purpose of securing the life preserver to an individual, and the housing carrying a clamp block assembly which is secured thereto and in which a pair of compressed gas cylinders are mounted, the life preserver also including a pair of inflatable bags, the bags being disposed on opposite sides of the centrally located clamp block assembly and being respectively attached to the individual ones of the cylinders in a manner whereby when the cylinders are punctured, the bags will be inflated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel clamp block assembly for mounting compressed gas cylinders of a life preserver, the clamp block assembly including a first clamp block which is rigidly secured to the housing of the life preserver and which includes a pair of first cylinder end-receiving sockets, and a second clamp block which is releasably clamped to the first clamp block and which has a pair of second cylinder end-receiving sockets aligned with the first cylinder end-receiving sockets whereby a pair of cylinders may be positioned within the sockets and clamped in place within the clamp block assembly by the clam-ping of the second clamp block with respect to the first clamp block, the sockets of the first clamp block carrying sealing rings for engaging the necks of the cylinders to effect a tight seal therewith to prevent the escape of the compressed gases longitudh nally of the cylinders when the ends of the cylinders are punctured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel portable life preserver which includes a relatively shallow cup-shaped housing having a cover hingedly connected thereto, and there being disposed within the housing at least one compressed gas cylinder of the type having a rupturable seal across an end thereof, the housing carryin g a cylinder opening mechanism which includes a puncture pin which is actuated by a plunger projecting through the housing, the cover being releasably retained in a housing sealing position by latch means carried by an elongated arm which is mounted on the exterior of the housing generally in alignment with the plunger, and the arm having a surface engageable with the plunger to effect the depressing of the plunger to a cylinder rupturing position subsequent to the releasing of the cover for the housing whereby in a single movement, the housing cover may be first released and the cylinder punctured so as to inflate an inflatable bag disposed within the housing.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the portable life preserver and shows the general outline of the housing thereof.

FIGURE 2 is an end view taken from the top of FIGURE 1, and shows the general details of the means for operating the life preserver.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the sec-tion line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and shows the specific details of the internal construction of the life preserver, as well as the means for rupturing the seals of the cylinders to eifect the inflation of the bags.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the section line 44 of FIGURE 1, and shows specifically the mounting of the cover and the latch means for retaining the cover in a housing closing position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the portable life preserver which is the subject of this invention, the portable life preserver being generally referred to by the numeral 5. The life preserver 5 includes a housing, generally referred to by the numeral 6, which includes a bottom wall 7 and an upstanding peripheral wall 8. The housing 6 is also provided with a cover 9, which cover 9 engages the upstanding wall 8 and forms a seal therewith to effectively close the housing 6.

The cover 9 is secured to the housing 6 by a mounting bracket 10 which is suitably secured to the exterior of the upstanding wall 8 and which has a pair of outwardly projecting ears 11 disposed in spaced relation. An L- shaped hinge member 12 is secured to the outer surface of the cover 9 and has an end portion thereof disposed between the ears 11. A hinge pin '13 extends through the hinge member 12 and the ears 11 to pivotally mount the hinge member 12 and the cover 9 for movement relative to the housing 6.

The cover 9 snugly fits the upstanding wall 8 to form an effective seal therewith. It is to be noted that the peripheral edge of the cover 9 is recessed, as at 14, to effect this seal.

The cover 9 is held in a closed position by latch means generally referred to by the numeral 15. The latch means 15 includes an elongated arcuate arm 16 which closely (follows the exterior of the upstanding wall 8 and which is hingedly connected to a mounting bracket by a hinge pin 17. The mounting bracket is referred to by the numeral 18 and is suitably secured to the exterior of the upstanding wml 8. The mounting bracket 18 also includes a pair of upstanding ears 19 which project outwardly from the upstanding wall 8. The arm 16 has one end disposed between the cars 19 and the pivot pin 17 is carried by the ears 19.

The latch means 15' also includes a pair of latch elements 2i? which are best illustrated in FIGURE 4. The latch elements 20 extend from opposite sides of the arm 16 and are suitably secured thereto, as by welding 21. Each of the latch elements 20 includes a plate portion 22 which is intended to engage a respective one of the bottom wall 7 and the cover 9. The spacing between the plate portions 22 is such that a snug fit results when the arm 16 is swung to the cover latching position illustrated in FIG- URE 3. As a result, the cover 9 is clamped against the upstanding wall 8 to effect the desired seal therewith.

A clamp block assembly, generally referred to by the numeral 23, is mounted within the housing 6 and is generally centrally positioned, as is best illustrated in FIG- URE 3. The clamp block assembly 23 includes a first clamp block 24 and a second clamp block 25. The clamp block 24 rests directly on the inner surface of the bottom Wall 7 and is fixedly secured to the housing 6 by a plurality of screws 26 carried by the bottom wall 7 and threaded into the clamp block 24. One edge of the clamp block 24 has a pair of ears 27 which are disposed generally in parallel relation to ears 28 carried by an opposing edge of the clamp block 25. Bolts 29 pass through the ears 27 and 28 to clamp the second clamp block to the first clamp block 24.

The clamp block 24 is provided with a pair of first cylinder end-receiving sockets 30. Each of these sockets 30 opens through the edge of the clamp block 24 opposite to the clamp block 25. Each of the sockets 30 has a tapered shoulder portion 31 and a reduced diameter portion 32 disposed remote from the clamp block 25. The reduced diameter portion 32 terminates in a small diam eter portion 33 which opens through the edge of the clamp block 24 remote from the clamp block 25.

The second clamp block 25 is provided with a pair of second cylinder end-receiving sockets 34 which are aligned with the first cylinder end-receiving sockets 3d and open through the edge of the clamp block 25 opposing the clamp block 24. The sockets 3t) and 34 are intended to receive small-conventional CO cartridges or cylinders 3S which have rupturable seals 36 in the upper ends thereof. The configuration of the sockets 34 is Such as to snugly receive the lower ends of the cylinders 35. While the portions of the sockets 30 adjacent the clamp block 25 are configurated to snugly receive upper portions oi the cylinders 35, the portions of the sockets 30 receiving the top portions of the cylinders are configurated to loosely receive the same. A seal between the upper portions of the cylinders liS and the clamp block 124 is effected by O-rings 37 which are engaged against the shoulders 31 and which engage the necks of the cylinders 35.

The clamp block 24 is provided with a pair of gas delivery tubes 38, which gas delivery tubes extend through opposite side edges of the clamp block 24 and open into the reduced portion 32 of the socket 343. An inflatable bag 39 is secured to the outer end of each of the gas delivery tubes 38. The bags 39 are positioned within the housing 6 on opposite sides of the clamp block assembly 23 and are formed of a gas impervious material, such as rubber or plastic. The gas delivery tubes 38 are provided with one-way check valves which permit the flow of gas into the bag 39, but not back through the gas delivery tubes 33. These check valves may be of a conventional type, and are generally referred to by the numeral 40.

The mounting bracket 18 and the upstanding wall 8 are provided with aligned openings 41 and 42. A plunger 43 having a rounded end 44 extends through the openings 41 and 42. The end of the plunger 43 disposed within the housing 6 has an elongated bracket 45 secured thereto. A pair of puncture pins 46 are carried by the bracket and are slidably disposed in the smalldiameter portions 33 of the socket 30. It is to be understood that there is a snug fit between the puncture pins 45 and the clamp block 24 so as to restrict the escape of gas around the puncture pins 46. The puncture pins 46 are aligned with the ends of the cylinders 35 for the purpose of rupturing the seals 36 thereof.

It is intended that the portable life preserver 5 be attached to ones belt. To this end, there is provided a mounting ring 47 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 48 secured to the upstanding wall 8. The pin 48 passes through the mounting bracket 10.

In order to facilitate the swinging of the arm 16, the free end of the arm 16 is provided with a suitable ring 49. This ring may be readily grasped by ones fingers to effect the pivoting of the arm 16.

Operation The housing 6 is normally sealed against the entrance of water by the cover 9. As a result, the interior of the housing 6 remains dry and the components therein remain ready for operation at all times. When it is desired to utilize the life preserver 5, one merely grasps the ring 49 and pulls on the same to swing the arm 16 away from the housing 6. As the arm 16 swings, the latch elements 20 move away from the bottom wall 7 and the cover 9 so as to release the cover 9 so it may be able to swing to an open position. Further movement of the arm 16 about the pivot 17 results in a cam surface 50 on the arm 16 adjacent the pivot pin 17 engaging the rounded upper end 44 of the plunger 43 so as to force the plunger 43 inwardly into the housing 6. This inward movement of the plunger 43 results in the puncture pins 46 engaging the ruptunable seals 36 of the cylinders 35 so as to rupture these seals. Once the seals 36 are ruptured, the compressed CO or other gas stored within the cylinders 35 is permitted to freely flow into the reduced pontions 32 of the sockets 30. Since the upper portions of the cylinders 35 are sealed with respect to the clamp block 24, and since very little, if any, gas may escape past the puncture pins 46, substantially all the gas of the cylinders 35 will flow through the gas delivery tubes 38 into the bags 39 so as to fill the bags 39 and inflate them. Since the cover 9 has been released and is free to swing away from the housing 6, as the bags 3? are inflated, they are free to move out of the housing 6, as is necessary in the inflation thereof. The bags 39 will be of a suflicient capacity to provide the necessary life saving support. Since the gas delivery tubes 38 are provided with the check valves 46), return flow of the gas from the bags 39 is prevented, and the bags 39 will remain inflated even though there may be some leakage of gas past the puncture pins 46.

it will be readily apparent that the details of construction of the life preserver 5 are such to permit a relatively compact unit. At the same time, the unit is a highly effective one which is constructed in a manner to assure the perfect functioning thereof when needed.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is directed to the tact that variations may be made in the example article disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable life preserver comprising a housing, a cover for said housing, releasable latch means carried by said housing and normally retaining said cover in a housing closing position, a compressed gas holder mounted within said housing, an inflatable bag within said housing and connected to said gas holder, sealing means connected to said gas holder and normally preventing flow of gas to said bag, and control means for opening said sealing means, said releasable latch means including an arm pivoted to the exterior of said housing and a latch member carried by said arm, said control means including a plunger projecting through said housing in alignment with said arm and said arm having a cam surface engageable with said plunger as said arm is pivoted away from said housing, whereby the pivoting of said arm away from said housing first moves said latch member to a cover releasing position and then moves said plunger to a gas holder opening position.

2. The life preserver of claim 1 wherein said housing is of a shallow cup-shaped configuration including a bot tom and a peripheral wall, and said latch member is generally 'G-shaped and snugly engages said bottom and said cover.

3. A portable life preserver of the type utilizing a compressed gas cylinder of the type having a reduced discharged end and a tapered shoulder, said life preserver comprising a housing, a cover for said housing, a first clamp block rigidly secured to said housing and having a first cylinder end-receiving socket therein, a second clamp block releasably oonnected to said first clamp block and having a second cylinder end-receiving socket therein aligned with said first cylinder end-receiving socket whereby a cylinder may be clamped between and generally within said clamp blocks, combined sealing means and seat carried by said first clamp block within said first socket for engaging a cylinder shoulder and forming a seal with the exterior of a cylinder, a gas delivery tube carried by said first clamp block and opening into said first socket at a point on the side of said sealing means disposed remote from said second clamp block, an infiatable bag secured to said tube for receiving gas therethrough, means for opening a cylinder including a puncture pin extending axially into said first socket and control means mounted on said housing in coactive relationship with said cover and said cylinder opening means.

The life preserver of claim 3 wherein said control means releasably retains said cover in place and includes means for actuating said puncture pin following the releasing of said cover.

5. The life preserver of claim 3 wherein said opening means includes a plunger extending exteriorly of said housing and having its inner end connected to said puncture pin, and wherein said cover is releasably connected to said housing, a clamp member normally retaining said cover in a housing closing position, an arm supporting said clamp member and pivotally mounted on the exterior of said housing adjacent said plunger, and a plunger engage-able surface on said arm for engaging and depressing said plunger to a cylinder opening position subsequent to the releasing of said cover.

6. A portable life preserver of the type utilizing a compressed gas cylinder of the type having a reduced discharged end and a tapered shoulder, said life preserver comprising a housing a cover for said housing, a first clamp block fixedly secured to said housing and having a pair of first cylinder end-receiving sockets therein, a second clamp block releasably connected to said first clamp block and having a pair of second cylinder endreceiving sockets the ein aligned with said first cylinder end-receiving sockets whereby a pair of cylinders may be clamped between and generally Within said clamp blocks, combined sealing means and seat carried by said first clamp block within each of said first secrets for engaging a cylinder shoulder and forming a seal with the exterior of a gas cylinder, said clamp blocks being centrally located Within said housing, inflatable bags disposed within said housing on opposite sides of said clamp block, gas delivery tubes carried by said first clamp block and opening into said first sockets at points on the sides of said sealing means remote from said second clamp block, said bags being connected to respective ones of said tubes for receiving gas therethrough, control means for opening cylinders including a puncture pin extending axially into each of said first sockets said last mentioned control means being constructed in cooperative relationship with said cover.

7. The life preserver of claim 6 wherein said opening means includes a plunger extending exteriorly of said housing and having its inner end connected to said puncture pins, and wherein said cover is releasably connected to said housing, a clamp member normally retaining said cover in a housing closing position, an arm supporting said clamp member and pivotally mounted on the exterior of said housing adjacent said plunger, and a plunger engageable surface on said arm for engaging and depressing said plunger to a cylinder opening position subsequent to the releasing of said cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,942 Schroeder Nov. 15, 1921 2,463,191 MacKenzie Mar. 1, 1949 2,571,532 Eriscoe Oct. 16, 1951 2,722,342 Fox Nov. 1, 1955 2,774,979 Moran Dec. 25, 1956 2,821,725 Harper Feb. 4, 1958 2,828,050 Engelder Mar. 25, 1958 2,840,833 Fruendt July 1, 1958 2,903,718 Wright Sept. 15, 1959 2,919,833 Wolshin Jan. 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 731,584 Great Britain June 8, 1955 

1. A PORTABLE LIFE PRESERVER COMPRISING A HOUSING, A COVER FOR SAID HOUSING, RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING AND NORMALLY RETAINING SAID COVER IN A HOUSING CLOSING POSITION, A COMPRESSED GAS HOLDER MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, AN INFLATABLE BAG WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND CONNECTED TO SAID GAS HOLDER, SEALING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID GAS HOLDER AND NORMALLY PREVENTING FLOW OF GAS TO SAID BAG, AND CONTROL MEANS FOR OPENING SAID SEALING MEANS, SAID RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS INCLUDING AN ARM PIVOTED TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING AND A LATCH MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID ARM, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A PLUNGER PROJECTING THROUGH SAID HOUSING IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID ARM AND SAID ARM HAVING A CAM SURFACE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PLUNGER AS SAID ARM IS PIVOTED AWAY FROM SAID HOUSING, WHEREBY THE PIVOTING OF SAID ARM AWAY FROM SAID HOUSING FIRST MOVES SAID LATCH MEMBER TO A COVER RELEASING POSITION AND THEN MOVES SAID PLUNGER TO A GAS HOLDER OPENING POSITION. 